Skype Coming to the iPad Soon

Skype on the iPhone is already popular, but the app is notable missing on the iPad. Now, the company says that an iPad version of Skype is on the way, partially in response to video of Skype running on an iPad that leaked on the Web.

Skype on the iPhone is already popular, but the app is notable missing on the iPad. Now, the company says that an iPad version of Skype is on the way, partially in response to video of Skype running on an iPad that leaked on the Web. If the leaked video is any indication, Skype for the iPad isn't just a pipe dream; it'll be released very soon.

Skype noted that the iPhone version of the app took off in an unprecedented way, and they expect the same for their iPad app, so they want to make sure it's well polished and put together first. Skype noted in an interview to TUAW that they expect the iPad version to have the same functionality, and that it's been in testing for at least a month.

There aren't a lot of details about what Skype for iPad will bring to the table, or whether it'll support any of the chat features that Skype on the desktop currently has. Skype for Windows has integration with Facebook and Facebook Chat, and Skype for iPhone allows you to play VoIP calls. Most people expect Skype for iPad to include the ability to place VoIP calls, but some of the more advanced features may be missing.

Skype's competition isn't standing still however: Fring just announced four-way video calling on the iPad using their service, and Apple is expected to make improvements to Facetime as well. Whether or not Skype can keep up remains to be seen, but it has enough of a userbase that it'll likely be a popular download regardless of the built-in features.